M101 Skywheel

M101 Skywheel is an upcoming 78-storey development located at Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur. The two-tower project boasts a ferris wheel positioned on the 52nd level, and at its highest vantage point, it will provide a view from 220 metres above ground.

A SkyMall from the 50th to 52nd level, with more than 200,000 square feet of retail space, will also offer the world’s highest shopping experience.

Below the SkyMall are SOFO units, while above it are the first Planet Hollywood Suites in Asia and 94 Design Suites by Studio F. A. Porsche. Each separate building function is demarcated through visual separation and colour coding, so that every block can be recognised immediately from the external façade.

The building’s exterior displays an eye-catching design of building segments, following a primarily red-and-black colour scheme, to make a bold and suave statement.

In line with its plan of uplifting Kampung Baru’s status, the development features local Malay designs, such as a repeating hexagon shape, as well as a triangular, diamond-like motif. The result is a cohesive overall modern glass-clad façade that is still in touch with its cultural environment.

Across the ground floor, trees line the perimeter of the development’s main entrance and the retail podium entrance.

CONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
Building a 78-storey development within a 2-acre-wide site area meant that the project had to be thoughtfully designed to maximise use of the space in the most efficient and structurally sound way.

Certain parts of the overall structure are designed to be column free, and there is a spacing in the design in terms of width. This adds to the difficulty of construction as the building needs to be built from top to bottom.

To construct the ferris wheel, the technical team had to come up with solutions for the beam structure that will be placed right below the ferris wheel to hold it in place as well as to provide more structural integrity to the towers beside it. Other considerations such as wind conditions, heat and heavy rain were also accounted for.

Environmental-friendly materials such as low-VOC paint, black mirror glass and metallic silver grey glass are used for their functionality and to create a comfortable environment. Solar-control glass were also used to reflect heat or UV rays and maintain optimal temperature inside the building. The glass also allows sufficient natural light inside, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Other facilities include an infinity pool, children’s pool, gym, surau (prayer rooms), toilets, terrace, bio pond and a parking facility. An MRT station at the doorstep adds to the accessibility and connectivity of the project. — Construction+ Online